Christ the Eternal High Priest
In the week after Pentecost we are conscious of the Holy Spirit coming upon the apostles and the establishment of Christ’s Church. It is at this point that the Mass, which Jesus established at the Last Supper which we have in our gospel, continues to bring heaven and earth together, through the consecration at the hands of the presiding priest, from that point until Jesus comes again in glory.
But it is only possible through the sacrifice of Christ. It is his giving freely of his flesh and shedding of his blood as the Perfect Sacrifice, as the final atonement for the sins of humanity that were established at the Fall, that brings humanity back to God. It is his once in time sacrifice, that is recalled at each and every Mass that is offered throughout the world through all time, that provides us with the source of all that we need to be in communion with God, all we need to be filled with God, all we need to live in this world.
And Jesus is the perfect High Priest. Down through the ages from Melchizidek the high priests gave sacrifice to atone for the sins of the people, but it was always imperfect. The coming of Christ brings the Perfect One to lead his people to the Promised Land of eternal glory; the coming of Christ brings the Perfect Sacrifice; the coming of Christ ends the separation from God.
Let us rejoice that the Mass brings heaven and earth together; let us give thanks that Christ has given himself for us that we might be at one with God; let us witness to this with ever more devotion to the Mass, to the Blessed Sacrament and evangelise to others about the love that Jesus’ sacrifice means for us.
Gospel Mark 14:22-25 ©
As they were eating he took some bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to them. ‘Take it,’ he said ‘this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had returned thanks he gave it to them, and all drank from it, and he said to them, ‘This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many. I tell you solemnly, I shall not drink any more wine until the day I drink the new wine in the kingdom of God.’